Ekkentropelma groovia Thandar, 2006

(Figure 15)

Ekkentropelma groovia Thandar, 2006: 41 –44, fig. 14. Diagnosis (see Thandar 2006).

Material examined. SAMC-A 090926, SM 162, off East London, 32°55’ S, 28°31’ E, heavy dredge, 630 m, 25.V.1978, 1 spec .

Description. Specimen minute (Figure 15A, B), cylindrical, narrow anteriorly, truncate posteriorly, slightly swollen just behind the middle. Colour yellowish-white. Length about 5.5 mm, anterior end about 1 mm in diameter, mid-body about 2 mm. Tentacles withdrawn, with some evidence of valves surrounding mouth. Ventral groove (Figure 15B) evident, starting on right side of animal and proceeding to left side, to terminate about 2 mm before anus. Tube feet few, better developed ventrally than dorsally, ventral tube feet about five on each side of groove and few within groove; antero- and postero-ventral tube feet reduced. Dorsal tube feet evident but more reduced than ventral. Anus slit-like; anal teeth not evident. Body enclosed by large, imbricating, multilocular plates/scales dorsally (Figure 15C), much smaller ventrally (Figure 15E). Tube feet ossicles as small perforated rods (Figure 15D & F). Tentacle ossicles as plates and rods (Figure 15G).

Distribution. Off Port St. Johns and East London, 630–775 m

Remarks. This species was described and remarked upon by Thandar (2006) and requires no further comments.